Tales from Sealy's Big Bass Splash

Let's hear 'em.

I fished Friday and Sunday. Lake was crowded but everyone I encountered was courteous and affable. Caught better fish on Friday. I had the obligatory really fat fish that was just a tad past 16" twice. I did not have any of the just a hair short of 24" fish. Biggest fish I caught was 19" on Friday. Sunday's fish were all dinks. My best 5 might've gone 5.75 lbs. As a matter of fact, biggest fish I caught Sunday were 2 big crappie on a Mann's 20+ while fishing out deep.

While I was there, the event seemed to run pretty smooth. That sign up line was pretty slow. The line for the pre-registered folks was longer and slower than the sign up line.

This part has nothing to do with Sealy but as usual, KMOO 99.9 radio coverage was laughable while I was listening.

All in all, it was fun getting out there and catching a few and I had about as much fun as one can have that didn't win any money.

I suppose it's a big secret as to who won

Winner is posted on the big bass splash page
Mark from Quitman won with a 9.33

I fished all 3 days, there were a ton of people but everyone we were close to was pretty nice and talkative
Only ever had one boat be an issue in the 7yrs I've fished it
Caught several fish each day Fri was the best for numbers and size had one fish 22.5" weigg a touch over 7
Cashed a check for a 2.26 and a 2.06
I do feel like there were less overs weighed this year than normal
But overall we had a pretty good trip

I've never fished one of these types of tournaments. The payouts were pretty impressive. How much is to fish each day?

Look up Sealyoutdoors.com for all info regarding these tournaments.

Preregistered line only took 20 minutes, while the walk-up line was 1.5 hours according to the people I talked to in line around 4PM.

Friday had 5 fish. Saturday had 5 fish. Sunday had 0 fish. I tried many depths and tactics but could not find them like I was hoping.

Almost all people I talked to were struggling to get more than 2 bites a day. I only talked to one couple that had any numbers and/or size.

Friday and Saturday people seemed courteous. Sunday, I had people come in on me 4 different times at different parts of the lake. They would literally idle up with the big motor to throw at the same dock or even the same bush I was fishing. I couldn't believe it.

Never caught one over 15.5 inches and therefore never weighed.

Luckily the weather was great and the boat performed well. Good times!

We got to registration about 6 PM Thursday and the line for walk up registration was wrapped around and back to the parking lot. Thankfully we were preregistered but that line was painfully slow.

Friday and Saturday the fishing was fine. All fish caught were either too big or too small. Sunday was absolutely brutal. Everything we were on had left. Struggled to get a bite but finally got one about 1 PM and decided to call it a day. Several others I talked to said their Sunday was just as bad.

For all the knocks and complaints these giant tournaments get, I've never had a problem. Pulled up on a guy Sunday morning, asked him which way he wanted me to go, and we worked it out. Did have a minor issue at the ramp with someone inexperienced trying to get the boat off the trailer. Oddly enough had almost the exact same situation happen the last morning with same guys!

We had five that went close to 50# but they were all in the slot...

Congrats to the winning angler!

Only fished Friday, caught 10, lost couple other good unders. Got 3rd 1 hour with a 2.28, got bumped with a 1.77, caught a 1.96 slot fish 🙄. We were on a pretty good pattern. Hopefully it will hold up for Mad Dog.

Didn't get a bite

Pre reg line at 1pm thursday, took 45min only one line for pre reg and one line for paying there folks.. Caught 3 small friday, 10 saturday two in the slot 1 under weighed 1.89 went to weigh it in, water was low couldn't get to bank had
to wade in mud 10yards with fish bag shirt registration card.. Was wore out time I did all that.. After weighing fish my phone wouldn't pull up my fishing license from outdoor anual app, so had to go over to lake fork marina store
and some nice lady pulled up my number and put into app for me.. Went back to sit in chair for my money and bass splash lady tells me "you can go back to fishing the hour is over" I ask her how much did I win and
where is my check? She said you got knocked out so go back to fishing.. I took my fishbag shirt and card with crocks in hand and truged back thru the mud to the boat.. Driving off I said I wouldn't come to weigh again
if I didn't have a under over 2lbs.. Caught 3 small ones sunday..Went to the award ceremony in my truck and way too many folks parked on sides of road, decided to go home and tell fish stories to the wife.. Beautiful weather

I fished all three days. It was tough for us. We had never fished that tournament like that or even a big bass tourament before. We are your typical 5 bass tournament fishermen. First day, first hour i caught one right over 2lbs and 15 inches long. We kept it in the boat until the last hour. We didnt listen to the radio or anything. I was honestly expecting like 9-10lb fish to win those. We ended up tossing back that fish the first day and didnt weigh it in. Come to find out that cost us a lot of money. I think 1.89 won big bass that day. I also caught a really nice fish but it was 23 inches and 1 inch too short. For the most part, we caught a bunch of small fish. Every single cove or dock had about 5 boats within 50 yard stretch. Learn a valuable lesson that day. We stayed at lake fork marina. Was at work on thursday around lunch, fishing partner asked if i wanted to fish, left granbury around lunch, got us a room last minute at the marina, and had a blast. Wouldnt change a thing other than maybe do some research on unders and past tournament winnings. I think there were like 1000 boats or more i heard. just crazy for that lake. Thats my honest fish story that will stick with me for a little while.